“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” -- Jim Rohn

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." -- Wayne Dyer

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi

August 16, 2016
Dear Friends,

The
next full moon peaks on Thursday, August 18 at 2:26 AM PDT at 26º
Aquarius-Leo. As the Moon comes into an exact opposition with the Sun,
two seemingly opposed aspects of ourselves are highlighted. This full
moon illuminates where we need to honor both our individuality and our
interdependence; our personal creativity and the exponential power of
collaboration.

As
we move into the Age of Aquarius — the juncture in a 26,000-year cycle,
which represents an era of egalitarianism, collaboration, and global
citizenship — we must dismantle the beliefs and systems maintaining the
old paradigm. We are compelled to make a radical shift in consciousness,
from the limited perception of duality to a collective awareness of our
inherent unity and divinity. In the old paradigm, this was an arduous
inner journey undertaken by relatively few, generally in solitude and
seclusion.We are now making this evolutionary shift en masse while
engaged in our everyday lives. The good news is that it has never been
easier to wake up; the not-so-good news is that awakening necessitates
facing and healing whatever remains in the shadow.

Each
full moon brings light to the shadow side of a particular polarity. The
dark side of Leo is domineering and oblivious to the needs of others;
the shadow side of Aquarius is unable to realize that change begins at
home. Opening the heart dissolves the shadow sides of both Leo and
Aquarius, and is the doorway into the new age.

Our
heart is far more than a pump. According to neurocardiology research,
the heart continually communicates with the brain in four ways:
neurologically, biochemically, biophysically, and electromagnetically.
We actually have a heart-brain, or intrinsic cardiac nervous system — a
complex network of ganglia and neurotransmitters similar to those of the
brain — which is capable of feeling, learning, and making decisions.

Studies also show that we have yet another “brain,” the enteric nervous
system, embedded in the lining of our gastrointestinal system and
affected by the same neurotransmitters as our cranial brain. This
“brain” in our gut is able to sense, record, and respond independently,
as well as in concert with our cranial brain. For more, read Science of the Heart, an overview of research published by the HeartMath Institute, available Here.

Esoteric
teachings tell us that we also have a heart chakra, a multidimensional
energy center that integrates mind and body, spirit and matter. When our
heart chakra is open, we feel peaceful and joyful, whole and connected.
We are compassionate, with ourselves as well as others, as we see the
world in terms of relationships, equality, and co-creation, the
hallmarks of the new age. For more on the heart chakra, read Anodea
Judith’s comprehensive guide: Wheels of Life: A User’s Guide to the Chakra System.

Uranus,
the modern ruler of Aquarius, trines the Sun and sextiles the Moon,
prompting us to “Think Different.” Uranus was named for the Greek God of
Chaos; from his severed genitals was born Aphrodite, the Goddess of
Love and Beauty, symbolizing the intimate link between chaos and
creativity. We live in revolutionary times, calling for unusual
approaches.

Estonia achieved its independence from the Soviet Union
through a series of mass singing demonstrations. Huge choruses, with as
many as 300,000 Estonians (one-fifth of the population), gathered to
sing their national songs which had been banned. While there was much
violence and bloodshed in other occupied nations of the USSR, the
Estonians won their freedom with their songs, hearts, and courage, and
without the loss of a single life. Watch an inspiring documentary on The Singing RevolutionHere.

The
need for revolutionary, nonviolent change continues. As Steve Bhaerman
(aka Swami Beyondananda) puts it so brilliantly, we need an “Evolutionary Upwising,” and that “It
makes no sense to try to ‘fix’ the caterpillar when transformation is
required; it makes all the sense in the world to gather together with
other imaginal cells and coalesce the newly emerging butterfly
civilization.” He identifies a four step process of Waking Up, Wising Up, Growing Up, and Showing Up:

“Wake
Up from the illusion of separation… Wise Up to both the awful truth and
the awesome opportunity… Grow Up from passive-aggressive children of
God to fully responsible adults of God… and Show Up for the ‘greatest
show on earth,’ …the Hero’s Journey where each of us is encouraged to
live the life we were meant to live.”

For fascinating and
empowering information on how our beliefs shape our reality and how we
can facilitate our own and humanity’s destiny, read Spontaneous Evolution: Our Positive Future and A Way to Get There From Here by Bruce Lipton and Steve Bhaerman. Join the UpWising Here.

New
perceptions and understandings flow as Mercury makes the first of three
oppositions to Chiron on August 19, and the first of three conjunctions
with Jupiter on August 22. Venus conjuncts Jupiter on August 27 and
then Mercury on August 28, softening our inner critic, widening our
curiosity, and deepening our capacity for empathy. There is an adage,
"the truth hurts", but actually the truth heals. A lie, even a white
lie, causes a disconnection within ourself and from others. Listen to
your body; it cannot lie. Speak and listen from your heart. Love and
truth need no defense.

Our
desire and courage to align with what is most meaningful and true for
us intensifies, as Mars forms a sesquiquadrate to Uranus on August 23,
conjuncts Saturn on August 24, squares Neptune on August 25, and squares
the lunar nodes on August 29. As you can see from the list of important
dates at the beginning of this update, we are receiving almost daily
tailwinds for transformation through the end of this month, which are
preludes and preparation for two powerful eclipses coming in September
(on the 1st and 16th), the third and final Saturn-Neptune square on
September 10, and the second Uranus-Eris conjunction on September 25.
Much can be accomplished; quantum shifts can happen, if we are willing
to be completely honest, trust our intuition, and focus on what matters
most -- acting from, for, and with love.

Your
light, your consciousness, your love makes a difference. Each one of us
has a piece of the celestial puzzle, a voice in the cosmic chorus, a
role in the divine play. Use the power of this full moon and the coming
weeks to take a big step forward on your soul path, for:

“Our
world is in crisis because of the absence of consciousness. And so to
whatever degree any one of us can bring back a small piece of the
picture and contribute it to the building of the new paradigm, then we
participate in the redemption of the human spirit, and that after all is
what it’s really all about." (Terence McKenna)

NOTE:
While some sources cite this full moon as a penumbral lunar eclipse,
NASA and astrophysicist Fred Espanak do not, as the Moon only skims the
edge of the Earth’s shadow, with no perceptible diminishment of light.

Stephanie Austin M.A. is
a full time astrologer specializing in life purpose, career, and
relationship readings since 1986. She also teaches astrology and writes
the New and Full Moon column for the Mountain Astrologer magazine. Her
background includes a bachelor's degree in Psychology, a master's in
Consciousness Studies, and a lifelong involvement with meditation,
Nature, and healing. For more information on her astrology readings,
eBooks, tutorials, and forecasts, visit www.EcoAstrology.com.

Stunning new crop circle seen on August 12 near Salisbury, Wiltshire England Here.

These
new and full moon updates are sent as a service to my astrology
clients, students, and friends. To subscribe for 25 updates a year via
PayPal, click here,
or send a check for $12 (or more) to Stephanie Austin, Box 1745, Port
Townsend, WA 98368, along with your email address. Your support is
greatly appreciated!

About Me

I am an Arcturian who crossed oceans of time and space to get to Terra Gaia where I began my Mission as an incarnating soul over 22,000 years ago and this is my last lifetime in the lower dimensions.
My current body was born in NYC (the Big Toroid) in 1949. I walked into it in 1961, just in time for all the fun, and since then I have lived in New York State, Amsterdam, Aspen, and The Peoples Republic Of Boulder. Some say I'm allergic to reality but I regard my aversion as a conscious choice.
Undergraduate work was done at the State University of New York where I majored in the Leary-Alpert Altered States Curriculum with a Minor in History. Graduate work was done at the University of Amsterdam in Registered Nursing . Post Graduate studies in Tibetan Buddhism (life-long) under the Ven. Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche, His Holiness The Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Suzuki Roshi and a very long list of compassionate Incarnate Tibetan Lamas.
For the last 4 years I have been totally absorbed in preparing for and facilitating the Planetary Ascension of Terra Gaia and the evolution of Homo Sapiens into Homo Galacticus.